Bracket for fixing a panel to a t-post

ABSTRACT

A bracket for attaching (removably or fixedly) a panel, board, sign, fence, or other long, flat object to a t-post, is described. In some embodiments, the bracket includes a t-post attachment portion, the t-post attachment portion including a face plate and two opposing side plates, the face plate extending between the two opposing side plates and fixed to front edges of the two opposing side plates, and a panel attachment portion, the panel attachment portion including a flat plate, the flat plate fixed to back edges of the two opposing side plates.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/679,454 filed Apr. 6, 2015, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Steel fence posts are types of fence posts or pickets that are easy to place into the ground, and include t-posts, y-posts, star posts, and so on. The posts include studs or nubs that extend along the spine of the posts and facilitate the attachment of mesh or barbed wire to the posts, such as when the posts are utilized to fence in an area or location or provide a boundary along a periphery of a location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows an example bracket for attaching a panel to a t-post;

FIG. 2 shows the bracket removably attached to a t-post; and

FIGS. 3 and 3A show an example bracket for attaching a corner panel to another panel attached to a t-post.

FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show an alternative bracket for attaching a panel to a t-post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview

Various brackets for attaching (e.g., removably or fixedly) a panel, board, sign, fence, or other long, flat object to a t-post, are described.

In some embodiments, a bracket includes a t-post attachment portion, the t-post attachment portion including a face plate and two opposing side plates, the face plate extending between the two opposing side plates and fixed to front edges of the two opposing side plates, and a panel attachment portion, the panel attachment portion including a flat plate, the flat plate fixed to back edges of the two opposing side plates.

In some embodiments, a bracket may facilitate attaching a panel to a t-post by positioning the t-post within an opening of an attachment bracket, the opening formed by two opposing side plates, a face plate extending between the two opposing side plates and fixed to front edges of the two opposing side plates, and a flat plate fixed to back edges of the two opposing side plates, removably securing the attachment bracket to the t-post by positioning the face plate on a nub of the t-post such that the flat plate contacts a back of the t-post, and fastening the panel to the flat plate of the attachment bracket.

In some embodiments, a bracket may include a flat center plate having a hole, the hole configured to receive a nub of the t-post such that the bracket rests on the nub of the t-post when the bracket is attached to the t-post, and one or more bendable wing plates located on sides of the flat center plate, the bendable wing plates configured to fix the panel to the t-post.

Thus, in some embodiments, the brackets described herein enable a quick and efficient way to attach a panel, fence, board, or other flat object to a t-post or other steel fence posts.

Examples of the Bracket

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a bracket for attaching a panel to a t-post. As described herein, the bracket 100, or attachment bracket, removable or fixedly attaches or secures a panel (not shown) to a fence post 110, such as a t-post. The panel may be any flat object, such as a fence, board, sign, wood beam, and so on. The fence post 110 may be a steel or metal fence post, such as a t-post, y-post, or other metal fence post, that is placed into the ground by hammering or pounding the post into the ground (e.g., without requiring the digging of post holes).

The bracket 100 includes a t-post attachment portion 120. The t-post attachment portion 120 includes a face plate 122 and two opposing side plates 124 a and 124 b. The face 122 plate extends between the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, and is fixed to front edges 126 a and 126 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b. In some embodiments, the face plate 122 extends between the two opposing side 124 a, 124 b plates at upper portions of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b.

The t-post attachment portion 120 may be configured in a variety of different sizes, shapes, and/or geometries, such as the rectangular shapes depicted in the Figures. For example, the front plate 122 may have a height size that facilitates the front plate 122 fitting between consecutive nubs on the t-post 110, and may have a width that facilitates receiving the t-post in a opening formed by the front plate 122 and the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b. Similarly, the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b may have a height and/or length that facilitates receiving the t-post in a opening formed by the front plate 122 and the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, as well as allows the attachment portion 120 to snugly attach to the t-post 110. Thus, the sizes and/or shapes of the various components of the attachment portion 120 enable the bracket 100 to be secured and removed from a t-post 110, while restricting movement of the bracket 100 when the bracket 100 is removably or fixedly attached to the t-post 110.

In some embodiments, the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b include bendable tabs 138 a and 138 b at lower portions of the front edges 126 a, 126 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b. When the bracket 100 is positioned to attach to the t-post 110, the bendable tabs 138 a, 138 b may be bent inwardly (e.g., towards the t-post 110) to contact the t-post, which fixedly attaches the bracket 100 to the t-post 110. Further, the bracket 100 may include pins or other structures located on inner surfaces of the lower portions of the two opposing side plates, which may assist in preventing the bracket 100 from moving (e.g., slightly rotating or twisting) when removably attached or otherwise fixed to the t-post 110.

The bracket also includes a panel attachment portion 130. The panel attachment portion 130 may include a face plate 132 and fastener holes or attachment points 134. The flat plate 132 may be fixed (e.g., welded or otherwise secured) to back edges 136 a and 136 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b.

The bracket 100 may include one or more fasteners (not shown) that secure the flat plate 132 of the bracket 100 to the panel, such as via the holes 134 provided within the flat plate 132.

The flat plate 132 may be configured in a variety of different sizes, shapes, and/or geometries, such as a rectangular shape depicted in the Figures. The flat plate 132 may have a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the face plate 122, and may extend outwardly from the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b (as depicted in the Figures) to provide suitable attachment surface for attaching a panel to the flat plate 132. For example, the flat plate 132 may extend from one to seven and a half (7½) inches from the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, and may have a height that is one to six inches. Thus, the sizes and/or shapes of the various components of the panel attachment portion 130 are configured to securely fix the bracket 100 to variously different shaped panels, fences, board, signs, and so on.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 100 is configured to removably attach to the t-post 110 when the face plate 122 rests on a nub 115 of the t-post 110 and the back plate 132 contacts a back 117 of the t-post 110. Therefore, using the attachment bracket 100 described herein, the method or process of removably or fixedly attaching the bracket 100 to the t-post 110, in order to facilitate attaching a panel to the t-post 110, may be a simple process having the following steps:

First, the t-post 110 is positioned within an opening of the attachment bracket 100, such as the opening formed by the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, the face plate 122, which extends between the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b and is fixed to the front edges 126 a, 126 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, and a flat plate 132 fixed to the back edges 136 a, 136 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b.

Next, the attachment bracket 100 is removably attached or secured to the t-post 110 by positioning the face plate 122 on the nub 115 of the t-post 110, such that the flat plate 132 contacts a back of the t-post 110.

Then, a panel is fastened or otherwise fixed or secured to the flat plate 132 of the attachment bracket 100, such as via screws or other fasteners that fix the panel to the flat plate 132 at the attachment points 134.

In some embodiments, the tabs 138 a, 138 b may be bent inwardly (e.g., they may be hammered or otherwise forced to an inward position) to contact the t-post 110, which causes the bracket 100 to be fixedly attached to the t-post 110.

As described herein, the bracket 100, the t-post attachment portion 110, and/or the panel attachment portion 120 may be configured to attach to a t-post 110 and join the ends of two different panels or other boards, such as to form corners with the two different panels, to connect one structure to another structure (e.g., a fence or section of a corral to another fence or section of a corral), and so on.

Thus, in some embodiments, the panel attachment portion 120, or a section thereof, may be placed or located on one of the opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, and/or may be bent or shaped to provide a variety of panel joining surfaces (2D or 3D) that facilitate the joining of one panel to another in space.

FIGS. 3 and 3A show an example bracket 300 for attaching a corner panel 315 to another panel 312 that is attached to a t-post 310. The bracket 300 includes a t-post attachment portion 320 (including the various components and configurations described with respect to bracket 100), which removably attaches to the t-post 310.

The bracket also includes a panel attachment portion 330 that is bent, shaped, or otherwise configured to join two panels, such as panel 312 and panel 315, at various joining angles. For example, the panel attachment portion 330 includes a first plate or attachment wing 340 that is fixed to the back edges 136 a and 136 b of the two opposing side plates 124 a, 124 b, and a second plate or attachment wing 345 that is fixed or runs parallel to the opposing side plate 124 b.

For example, the panel attachment portion 330 includes a flat plate having a first attachment wing 340 positioned at an angle (e.g., at a right angle or other attachment angles) with respect to the second attachment wing 345. Using such a bracket 300, the panel 312 is joined to the panel 315 at an angle, which forms a right turn in a fence or other similar structure. Thus, the first attachment wing 340 is configured to position a first panel 312 proximate to the t-post 110, and the second attachment wing 345 is configured to position a second panel 315 proximate to the t-post 110, such that the second panel 315 is joined to the first panel 312 at a right angle.

Of course, the bracket 300 may be configured to join panels in other joining configurations, such as to form left turns, to connect corrals or other structures (e.g., two- or four-corral configurations), and so on.

FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, in other embodiments, show an example bracket 400 for attaching a panel to a t-post 110. Attachment bracket 400 includes a t-post attachment portion 410, such as a flat center plate 412 having one or more nub placement points 414 (e.g., holes or openings), where the nub placement points are configured (e.g., sized) to receive the nub 415 of the t-post 410, such that the bracket 400 rests on the nub 415 of the t-post 110 when the bracket 400 is attached to the t-post 110.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B and 4C, the center plate 412 may include multiple nub attachment points 414 positioned to receive consecutive nubs located on the spine of the t-post 110. Thus, the center plate 412 and the nub attachment points 414 may be sized or shaped to complement the size and shape of the t-post 110 and/or the positions of the nubs 115 of the t-post 110, among other configurations.

The attachment bracket 400 also includes one or more panel attachment portions 420, such as bendable wing plates 420 a and 420 b, located on sides of the flat center plate 412, where the bendable wing plates 420 a, 420 b are configured to fix a panel to the t-post 110.

In some embodiments, when the bracket 400 is positioned on a t-post 110, a wing plate 420 a or 420 b may be bent to be perpendicular to the center plate 412 (FIGS. 4B and 4C), which facilitates attaching a panel at a corner of a fence or other structure supported by multiple t-posts 110. Thus, in some embodiments, the wing plate 420 a may be utilized to attach a right turn panel to a structure and the wing plate 420 b may be utilized to attach a left turn panel to a structure (e.g., to facilitate the joining of perpendicular or non-parallel panels of the structure).

As described herein, the bracket 400 may include one or more fasteners that fix the panel to a wing plate 420 a, 420 b, such as at attachment points 422 located on the wing plates 420 a, 420 b. Further, the bracket 400 may include post securement wings 430 a, 430 b, which, when bent and fastened together to wrap around the t-post 110, securely fix the bracket 400 to the t-post 110 (FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D).

Thus, in some embodiments, the brackets described herein provide a simple system for attaching boards/panels to t-posts, at various adjustable heights along the t-posts, and/or enable panels to be joined together at various angles and configurations. The brackets facilitate the placement of signs, fences, panels, boards, and other large flat objects, at locations where using t-post would be desirable over other posts or securing devices (e.g., locations where digging is non reasonable or possible) and/or enable a quick, simple, and low cost process for erecting temporary signs, fences, panels, boards, and so on.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the apparatus is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the apparatus to the precise form disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the apparatus, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A bracket configured for removable attachment to a t-post having a longitudinally extending front face member and a plurality of nubs extending from the front face member and a longitudinally extending rear member positioned at about a right angle to the front face member, the bracket comprising: a face plate configured for positioning against a portion of the front face member of the t-post; a panel plate configured for positioning against a portion of the rear member of the t-post; and opposing side plates having front and rear edges, wherein the face plate is secured to the front edges of the opposing side plates and the panel plate is secured to the rear edges of the opposing side plates.
 16. The bracket of claim 15, further comprising bendable tabs positioned at the front edges of the opposing side plates.
 17. The bracket of claim 15, wherein the face plate is configured for positioning between first and second nubs extending from the front face member.
 18. The bracket of claim 14, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member.
 19. The bracket of claim 18, wherein the face plate includes a second opening configured for positioning about a second nub extending from the front face member.
 20. The bracket of claim 15, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member and a first partial opening positioned at a first end of the face plate and configured for partial positioning about a second nub extending from the front face member.
 21. The bracket of claim 20, wherein the face plate includes a second partial opening positioned at a second end of the face plate and configured for partial positioning about a third nub extending from the front face member.
 22. The bracket of claim 15, wherein the panel plate includes a first attachment wing secured to the rear edges of the opposing side plates and a second attachment wing secured to one of the opposing side plates.
 23. The bracket of claim 22, wherein the first attachment wing is configured to position a first panel proximate to the t-post and wherein the second attachment wing is configured to position a second panel proximate to the t-post, such that the second panel is joined at a right angle to the first panel.
 24. A method for attaching a panel to a t-post, the method comprising: providing a t-post having a longitudinally extending front face member and a plurality of nubs extending from the front face member and a longitudinally extending rear member positioned at about a right angle to the front face member; providing a bracket comprising: a face plate configured for positioning against a portion of the front face member of the t-post; a panel plate configured for positioning against a portion of the rear member of the t-post; and opposing side plates having front and rear edges, wherein the face plate is secured to the front edges of the opposing side plates and the panel plate is secured to the rear edges of the opposing side plates; removably attaching the bracket to the t-post by positioning the face plate against a portion of the front face member of the t-post and the panel plate against a portion of the rear member of the t-post; and fastening a panel to the panel plate.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the bracket further comprises bendable tabs positioned at the front edges of the opposing side plates and wherein the method further comprises the step of bending the tabs into contact with the front face member of the t-post.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member and wherein the method further comprises the step of positioning the first opening about a first nub extending from the front face member.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member and a second opening configured for positioning about a second nub extending from the front face member, and wherein the method further comprises the step of positioning the first opening about the first nub extending from the front face member and the second opening about the second nub extending from the front face member.
 28. A bracket system for attaching a panel to a t-post, comprising: a t-post having a longitudinally extending front face member and a plurality of nubs extending from the front face member and a longitudinally extending rear member positioned at about a right angle to the front face member; and a bracket configured for attachment to the t-post, comprising: a face plate configured for positioning against a portion of the front face member of the t-post; a panel plate configured for positioning against a portion of the rear member of the t-post; and opposing side plates having front and rear edges, wherein the face plate is secured to the front edges of the opposing side plates and the panel plate is secured to the rear edges of the opposing side plates.
 29. The bracket system of claim 28, wherein the bracket further comprises bendable tabs positioned at the front edges of the opposing side plates.
 30. The bracket system of claim 28, wherein the face plate is configured for positioning between first and second nubs extending from the front face member.
 31. The bracket system of claim 28, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member.
 32. The bracket system of claim 28, wherein the face plate includes a second opening configured for positioning about a second nub extending from the front face member.
 33. The bracket system of claim 28, wherein the face plate includes a first opening configured for positioning about a first nub extending from the front face member and a first partial opening positioned at a first end of the face plate and configured for partial positioning about a second nub extending from the front face member.
 34. The bracket system of claim 33, wherein the face plate includes a second partial opening positioned at a second end of the face plate and configured for partial positioning about a third nub extending from the front face member. 